Rio's Christ the Redeemer Statue Is Due for a Makeover in 2017

Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue is not only one of the most famous attractions in Brazil—it's one of the most iconic statues in the world. And as the most visible landmark in Rio, which hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics, it's normal for the statue to get some three million visitors a year. However, weather conditions are taking a toll, and the Catholic Church (which pays for the maintenance of Christ the Redeemer) is asking for help caring for the structure, which is the largest Art Deco statue in the world and a key part of the city of Rio's UNESCO World Heritage site designation.

Cristina Ventura, an architect who is overseeing the statue's upkeep, told the Religion News Service that "moisture is seeping in through cracks in the soapstone that lines the Christ and building up inside leaving it damp and causing rust." On top of that, the 98-foot-tall statue (not including the 26-foot pedestal) is hit by lightning an average of six times per year, resulting in cracks and other damage, and needs new conductors installed to prevent further issues.

The Chico Mendes Institute is the body that manages and maintains the statue as well as the Tijuca National Park it stands within. It costs about $1.5 million per year to maintain the statue and pay the 30 employees who staff the park, but it's clear that additional funds are needed to handle the most serious damage to Christ the Redeemer. A spokesman from the institute confirmed a meeting with the local archdiocese to talk about how to cover the cost of repairs. In the past, there have been two separate fundraising campaigns organized by the Catholic Church, in 1923 and 1929, to finance upgrades and maintenance for the monument. One possible option is increasing the ticket price that tourists pay to enter Tijuca—currently, none of those funds go to the Church.

Orani João Tempesta, archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, has set up a group called Friends of Christ the Redeemer to help raise funds for the statue's 2017 makeover. "If you think of Paris, you think of the Eiffel Tower. If you go to New York, you visit the Statue of Liberty," he said in an address to the group. "For the past 85 years the monument has been maintained with the help of private donations and the Catholic Church’s own resources. But unfortunately, with the economic crisis in Brazil, we need to appeal for more contributions to make ends meet."